Chapter 914



Jake wasn’t in the mood to talk to Lacey, so he simply gave a nod, allowing her to stay. Leo, ever wary of Lacey’s presence, stood behind. Jake poured himself drink after drink, letting the hours slip by. Perhaps he’d had too much. His vision began to blur, his head felt light, and his breathing became shallow. Yet, out of habit, he kept drinking.

Leo observed Jake with growing concern. Finally, he stepped forward and said, “Mr. Reeves, that’s enough for today. You shouldn’t keep drinking like this.”

Jake knew Leo was right. But an inexplicable restlessness gnawed at him. He pushed Leo’s hand away with more force than necessary. “Leave me alone.”

Lacey’s eyes flickered as she noticed Jake’s unsteady behavior. She moved forward, offering her support. “Let me help you, Mr. Reeves. I’ll get you back safely.”

To her surprise, Jake refused her approach. “Stay back. I don’t want anyone to touch me.”

With that, Jake staggered to his feet, swaying as he tried to walk out. Lacey instinctively took a step to follow Jake.

But Leo reached out, stopping her. “Lacey.” He looked at her intently, his expression unreadable. “Did you put something in Mr. Reeves’ drink?”

A chill ran through Lacey as her heart skipped a beat. She shook her head quickly. “No, I didn’t.”

At Lacey’s words, Leo narrowed his eyes, suspicion flashing across his face. Leo had known Jake for years and was well aware of his habits. Jake hardly ever drank at events or banquets. Sure, Jake would turn to a drink or two when something weighed on him, but never enough to end up this far gone. Yet here he was, visibly intoxicated. Furthermore, Lacey knew a bit about medicine, and coincidentally, Jake’s condition had seemed unusual ever since she arrived. Leo couldn’t shake the feeling that Lacey might have a hand in Jake’s condition.

Lacey watched Jake’s staggering figure fade from view, a pang of anxiety settling in her chest. She clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Leo. “If you don’t trust me, take Mr. Reeves to the hospital yourself. If I’m to blame, hold me accountable.”

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is your fiction sanctuary Leo scoffed at this. Either Lacey was genuinely innocent, or she was confident whatever she’d done couldn’t be traced. He fixed her with a pointed look, his tone biting. “Fine. But let me warn you, Lacey. Don’t start thinking you can pull anything here.”

Lacey didn’t bother arguing. Her mind revolved around Jake, and urgency sharpened her tone. “Leo, are you an idiot? Jake’s missing! And here you are, getting in my way instead of looking for him.”

Leo’s expression remained calm. “Relax. This is Jake’s bar. Nothing’s going to happen to him here. He needs some time alone. Let’s wait.”

Lacey bit her lip, frustration gnawing at her. Waiting wasn’t an option. She had to find Jake, and fast.

Meanwhile, Jake had been wandering for a while. Anytime someone approached, an intense wave of aversion rolled over him, almost instinctual. He recoiled from everyone, a mixture of discomfort and fever simmering within, as if he craved the presence of someone specific yet couldn’t bear anyone else near him.

Eventually, Jake stumbled into an empty private room and sank onto the sofa, massaging his temples in a futile attempt to settle the disarray in his mind. His body, however, refused to cooperate. The alcohol seemed to amplify his emotions. The buried feelings of longing and resentment swirled up, relentless and raw, clawing at his sanity.

Jake slouched back on the sofa with a heavy sigh, his composure barely holding while tension rippled through him. On the surface, he looked calm, but the faint bulge of veins along his arms hinted at tension simmering just beneath, as if he were a breath away from unraveling.

Kallie returned to the private room after seeing her clients off, surprised to find someone sprawled on the sofa. At first, she assumed someone had entered the wrong room. She approached cautiously, her voice gentle. “Hello? Are you in the wrong room?” As Kallie noticed the person didn’t move a muscle and remained still, she stepped closer with a frown, finally recognizing him.

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